Electrical connector having resilient insert



Aug. 7, 1951 w.A. uLlNE ETAT.

ELECTRICAL coNNEcToR HAVING REsILTENT INSERT Filed Feb. 1l, 1946 u. .will ..0

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Patented Aug. 7, 1951 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING BESILIENT INSERT William A. Uline and Ho N. Y., assignorc to tion, New York, N.

ward P. Rowell, Sidney, Bendix Aviation Corpora- Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 11, 1946, Serial No. 646,788 12 Claims. (CL 173-328) This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to connectors of the plug and jack or pin contact and socket contact type for connecting electrical conductors.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a. pin and socket type connector having novel resilient means for mounting or sup- DOrting the pins and sockets thereof whereby said pins and sockets are unaifected by shock and vibration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector of the above character wherein the lpins and sockets thereof, through provision of novel resilient mounting means therefor, are maintained free of all air, dirt, and moisture resulting in increased flashover and creepage distances.

Another object is to provide a connector of the above character having removable and interchangeable resilient mounting members of novel construction for the pins and sockets thereof.

A further object is to provide resilient inserts or mounting members and protective shells or retainers of novel construction for the contact pins and sockets of a connector whereby installation of said inserts or members in their respective retainers or shells is facilitated.

A still further object is to provide resilient pin and socket mounting members or inserts and protective shells or retainers novelly constructed so that location or orientation of said inserts and the pins and sockets carried thereby in definite positions within their respective shells or retainers is Agreatly facilitated to insure desired connections between and alignment of the various pins and sockets.

'I'he above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the male assembly of a connector embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but of the female assembly of said connector embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown one form of a connector constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprising a detachable male assembly indicated generally at 5 (Fig. 1), and a cooperating fixed female assembly indicated generally at 6 (Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 1, assembly 5 comprises a metallic, preferably aluminum, tubular shell 1 of novel construction which is formed with two axially spaced and communicating bores 8 and 9 of different diameters. the bore 8 being of a diameter less than the diameter of bore 8. Shell l is internally provided between the bores 8, 9 with an annular flange or projection III which is formed integrally with said shell and projects beyond the wall thereof surrounding bore 8, the latter terminating at said flange in a narrow, square annular shoulder or abutment II, and the bore 9 terminating at said flange in a somewhat wider, but bevelled, annular shoulder or abutment I2. Shell I is provided in the wall thereof surrounding |bore 8 with a. longitudinal slot or keyway I3, and is further provided internally thereof with an inwardly projecting key Il which extends through flange In and slightly beyond abutments II and I2 into the bores 8 and 9. Key Il is formed integrally with shell I and is located in line with slot I3 in said shell. Shell 'I is externally threaded to receive a conductor and/or a conduit supporting adapter I5, and is externally provided with an annular flange I 6 to receive a coupling nut II which is telescoped over said shell for coupling and electrically connecting the assemblies 5 and i together.

As shown, shell 1 of assembly 5 contains and protects the contact sockets which are resiliently and removably mounted within said shell by resilient mounting means of novel construction whereby said sockets will be unaifectedby shock and vibration and will be maintained free of all air, dirt, and moisture, when assemblies 5 and 6 are coupled together, thus improving creepage and lashover conditions. As will appear hereafter, the novel construction of the socket mounting means in conjunction with the novel construction of shell 1 as hereinbefore described, simpli es installation and location or orientation of said mounting means and the sockets carried thereby Within said shell. As shown, the socket mounting means comprises a round insert or member I8 of resilient insulating material, such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber, provided with a plurality of holes I! to removably receive therein a corresponding plurality of contact sockets 20 and rmly hold the latter against longitudinal displacement from said insert under ordinary operating conditions. Each socket 28 is formed at one end with a pronged socket portion 2| disposed within the hole I8 to receive a contact pin hereinafter referred to, and at the opposite end which projects exteriorly of insert I8 with a solder well 22 to receive the conductor of an insulated lead 23.

Insert I8 is formed with an annular skirt portion 24 which is of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bore in flange I8, an enlarged annular portion 25 adapted to engage the wall of bore 8, and a still larger annular portion 26 axially spaced from the portion 25 and adapted to engage the wall of bore 8. Insert I8 is alsoformed externally thereof and between annular portions 25 and 28 with an annular groove or recess 21 adapted to receive the annular flange or projection I8 on shell 1, said recess having at one end a square annular abutment or shoulder 28 adapted to contact the abutment I Iv on shell 1. and a bevelled annular abutment or shoulder 28 at the other-end adapted to contact the shoulder I2 on said shell. The diameters of insert portions 25, 26 and of the portion containing the annular recess 21 are so proportioned that an interference t of approximately .020 is provided whereby insert I8 will snugly fit within shell 1 and engage the respective surfaces thereof under compression. Y

Insert I8 is also provided in the periphery thereof with a keyway 88 adapted to receive the lly through the free end of insert portion and extending through said portion and through recess 21 to a. point slightly Ibeyond the bevelled shoulder 28 on said insert. It will be noted that keyway 38 does not extend through the entire length of annular portion 26 of insert I8 so that the peripheral surface of said portion for a part thereof will remain continuous and will not be interrupted. Keyway 38 is located on insert I8 in a definite position with respect tothe holes I8 in said insert and. as shown in Fig. 3, said keyway is located in diametrical alignment with two of said holes. If desired, more than one keyway 38 may be provided on insert I8, and the location of said keyways may vary depending upon the desired arrangement of contacts.

Insert I8 is inserted skirt end first into shell 1 through the -bore 8 of the latter, and it will lbe noted that when the skirt portion 24 of the insert is introduced into bore 8 through bore 8 and the bore of flange I8, and the insert portion 25 is disposed within bore 8, the insert. I8 will be free for rotation relative to shell 1 since the diameter of bore 8 is greater than the diameter of insert portion 25, and the diameter of the bore in fiange I8 is slightly greater than the diameter of skirt portion 24. The insert I8 may then be easily rotated relative to shell 1, thus facilitating location or orientation of said insert with respect to said shell, and alignment of keyway 38 with key I4, whereby the contact sockets 28 will occupy definite predetermined angular positions in shell 1,

Upon location of insert I8 in proper position circumferentially of shell 1 determined by alignment of keyway 38 with key I4, .pressure is then applied on the exposed end of the insert whereupon the portion 25 thereof is forced past the flange I8 facilitated by the bevelled abutment I2 on the shell 1, and the portion 28 of said insert is forced int'o bore 8 facilitated by the bevelled abutment 28 on the insert until the latter abutment contacts the bevelled abutment I2 on the shell. At this time, the key I4 on shell 1 will be engaged in the keyway 38 on insert I8, the abutment 28 on the insert will contact the abutment II on the shell, the flange I8 on the shell will be engaged in the annular recess 21 on the insert, and the insert portions 25 and 25 will engage the walls of bores 8 and 8, respectively, under compression to provide a moisture and air tight seal. Insert I8 is now located in proper position within shell 1 and is retained in said shell against axial displacement in opposite directions by the cooperating abutments II, 28 and I2, 28 and the annular projection I8. The contact sockets 28 may |be inserted into insert I8 prior to or after mounting of said insert in shell 1. It will be noted that the cooperating key I4 and keyway 38 on the shell 1 and insert I8, respectivelyl in addition to serving as insert locating means. also prevents rotation of the insert I8 relative to shell 1 after said insert is completely mounted therein as hereinbefore described.

vThe leads 23 are supported in a grommet 3| of rubber or the like resilient insulating material which is loosely mounted within adapter I5 and is arranged to receive said leads and the exposed ends ofthe sockets 28, and to be seated in the ends of the holes I8 in insert I8 to make rm and sealing contact with the edges thereof when said adapter is threaded on the shell 1.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the assembly 6 comprises a metallic, preferably aluminum, tubular shell 3'2 of novel construction which is externally threaded to receive the nut I1 of assembly 5, and is externally provided with a ange 33 for bolting assembly 6 to a suitable support. formed with a bore 34 to receive therein in telescoping relation the shell 1 of assembly 5, and disposed within said bore and formed integrally with shell 32 'is a key 35 for cooperating with the slot I3 in shell 1 to align shells 1 and 32 and thereby insure desired connections between the sockets 28 in assembly 5 and the contact pins 35 in assembly 6.

Shell 32 is formed with axially spaced bores 31 and 38 of different diameters, the bore 31 being of a diameter less than the diameter of bore 38. For a purpose to appear hereafter, the diameters of bores 31 and 38 and the relative spacing thereof are the same as the spacing and diameters of the bores 8 and 8 in the shell 1 of assembly 5. Shell 32 is internally provided between bores 31 and 38 with an annular flange or projection 33 which is formed integrally with said shell and projects beyond the wall thereof surrounding bore 31, the latter terminating at said flange in a narrow, square annular shoulder or abutment 48, and the bore 38 terminating at said flange in a somewhat wider, but bevelled, annular shoulder or abutment 4I. Flange 38 and a'butments 48, 4I are also of the'same size and conformation as the flange I8 and abutments II and I2 in shell 1 of assembly 5. Shell 32 is further provided internally thereof with a short key 42 which extends the length of bore. 31, through ange 38 and slightly beyond abutment 4I, and is of the same dimensions as the dimensions of key I4 in shell 1 of assembly 5. Key 4'2 is formed integrally with shell 32 and is located in line with key 35 so as to occupy the same relative position in said shell' as the key I4 in shell 1.

The contact pins 36 are removably mounted within shell 32 by resilient mounting means of novel construction, whereby said pins will be unaffected by shock and vibration and will be maintained free of all air, dirt, and moisture when I coupled with assembly 6. The novel construction of said mounting means in conjunction wlth the novel construction o1' shell 32 also simplifies installation and location or orientation of the mounting means and the pins 36 carried thereby within said shell so that said pins will be located in shell 32 with respect to key 35 the same as the sockets 2II are located in shell 1 with respect to slot I3. As shown, the contact pin mounting means comprises a round insert or member of resilient insulating material, such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber, provided with a plurality of holes 44 to removably receive therein the pins 36 and firmly hold the latter against longitudinal displacement relative to said insert under normal operating conditions. Holes 44 correspond in size and conformation with the holes I9 in insert I8 so that the sockets 20 and pins 36 are interchangeable in their inserts I8 and 43. Pins 36 project beyond one end of insert 43 into bore 34 to receive the sockets 20, and beyond the opposite end of said insert and have electrically connecting therewith, as by soldering, the conductors of insulated leads 45.

Insert 43 is formed with an annular portion 46 adapted to engage the wall of bore 31, and an enlarged annular portion 41 axially spaced from the portion 46 and adapted to engage the wall of bore 38, said portions being identical with the portions 25 and 26, respectively, of insert I8 in diameter, length, and spacing. Insert 43 is provided in the periphery thereof and between the portions 46, 41 with an annular groove or recess 43 adapted to receive therein the annular flange or projection 39 on shell 32, said recess having at one end a square annular shoulder or abutment 49 adapted to contact the abutment 40 on shell 32, and a bevelled annular abutment or shoulder 5U at the other end adapted to contact the abutment 4I on said shell. The recess 48 and the abutments 49 and 50 on insert 43 are identical with the recess 21 and abutments 28 and 29 on insert I8 is size and conformation. Insert 43 is also provided in the periphery thereof with a keyway 5I adapted to receive the key 42 on shell 32. said keyway opening outwardly through the free end of insert portion 46 and extending through said portion and through recess 48 to a point slightly beyond the bevelled abutment 5I) on said insert. Keyway 5I is the same in size as the keyway 30 in insert I8, and is located on insert 43 with respect to the holes 44 therein in the same position as keyway 30 is located on insert I8 with respect to the holes I9 therein.

Insert 43 is inserted into shell 32 through the bore 38 and in effecting this operation, the annular portion 46 of said insert is rst introduced into the bore 38 and since the latter is greater in diameter than the diameter of said portion, the insert may be easily rotated relative to shell 32 to locate the same in proper position circumferentially of said shell, determined by aligning keyway 5I with key 42. Pressure is then applied on the exposed end of the insert 43 whereupon the portion 46 thereof is forced past the flange 39 facilitated by the bevelled abutment 4I on the shell, and the portion 41 is forced into bore 38 facilitated by the bevelled abutment 50 on the insert until the latter abutment contacts the bevelled abutment 4I on the shell. At this time, key 42 will be engaged in keyway 5I, abutment 49 will contact abutment 4U, ange 39 will be engaged in recess 48, and the portions 46 and 41 of the insert will engage the walls of bores 31 and 33, respectively, under compression to provide a moisture and air tight seal.

In effecting connection between the sockets 20 and pins 36, the keyway I3 is aligned and engaged with key 35 before sockets 23 and pins 36 are engaged, and the shells 1 land 32 are then telescoped. whereupon the sockets 28 and pins 36 are also telescoped and the connection made substantially permanent by rotating the clamping nut I1 until adjacent ends of the inserts I8 and 43 firmly abut each other.

It will thus be noted that by means of the keys I4 and 42 and keyways 30 and 5I accurate angular location or orientation of the inserts I8 and 43 with respect to the slot I3 and key 35 is facilitated and assured, whereby the sockets 20 and pins 36 will be accurately aligned and only the desired connections between said pins and sockets will be effected when the shells 1 and 32 are telescoped. It will further be noted that since the inserts I8 and 43, except for the skirt portion 24 on insert I8, are otherwise identical in size and conformation, said inserts are interchangeable in shells 1 and 32.

There is thus provided a connnector of the pin and socket type wherein the contact sockets and pins thereof are mounted in cooperating protective shells and resilient inserts of novel construction, whereby said sockets and pins will be unaffected by vibration and shock, will be maintained free of all dirt, air, and moisture, and angular location or orientation of said inserts with respect to said shells in a predetermined relation is facilitated.

Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specication, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited to said embodiment. Various changes may be made therein. particularly in the design and arrangement of the parts illustrated, and in the materials used, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference is had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical connector of the pin contact and socket contact type, a rigid shell having two axially spaced bores of different diameters and an internal annular flange between said bores, the larger diameter bore terminating at said flange in a. bevelled annular abutment and the smaller diameter bore terminating at said flange in a square annular abutment, a resilient member disposed within said shell and adapted to receive a plurality of said contacts, said member having axially spaced annular portions of different diameters engaged with the walls of said bores and an annular recess between said portions into which said flange projects, said recess having at one end thereof a bevelled annular abutment in contact with the bevelled abutment on said shell and at the opposite end a square annular abutment in conitact with the square abutment on said shell, and

cooperating means comprising a key on said shell and a keyway on said member for locating the latter in a predetermined angular position with respect to said shell, said key and keyway extending across said flange and traversing no more than a portion of the larger diameter bore engaged by said resilient member.

2. In an electrical connector of the pin` conassenso tact and socket contact type, two rigid telescoping shells, each of said shells having two axially spaced boresof different diameters and an internal annular flange between said bores, the larger diameter bore terminating at said flange in a bevelled annular abutment and the smaller diameter bore terminating at said ange in a square annular abutment. a resilient insert mounted within one of said shells with a plurality of socket contacts, a resilient insert mounted within the other of said shells with a corresponding plurality of pin contacts, said inserts having annular portions contacting the walls of the bores, the ange, and the abutments in their respective shells, cooperating means on said shells and said inserts for locating the latter in predetermined angular positions in said shells, said cooperating means terminating short of the outer end of the annular portion of the insert in engagement with said larger diameter bore, and cooperating ,means on said shells for coupling the same and said socket and pin contacts in telescoped relation, said contacts being mounted in axially extending passages through said inserts and removably held therein by internal flanges in said passagesengaging annular grooves intermediate the ends of said contacts.

3. In an electrical connector of the pin contact and socket contact type, a one-piece rigid tubular shell having two axially spaced bores of different diameters and an internal annular ange between said bores constituting the most constricted portion of the passage through the shell, the larger diameter bore terminating at said flange in a bevelled annular abutment and the smaller diameter bore terminating at said flange in a square annular abutment, a resilient member disposed within said shell and adapted to receive one of said contacts, said member having axially spaced annular portions of different diameters engaged with the walls of said bores under radial compression in at least the larger diameter bore and an annular recess between said portions into which said flange projects, said recess having at one end thereof a bevelled annular abutment in contact with the bevelled abutment on said shell and at the opposite end a square annular abutment in contact with the square abutment on said shell, whereby said member is insertable axially into the shell from the bevelled side of said flange and removable therefrom in the same direction without damage to said member.

4. In an electrical connector of the pin contact and socket contact type. two rigid telescoping shells, each of said shells having two axially spaced bores of diierent diameters and an internal annular flange between said bores, thev larger diameter bore terminating at said flange in a bevelled annular abutment and the smaller diameter bore terminating at said ange in a square annular abutment, said square' annular abutments being in spaced face-to-face relation,

a resilient insert mounted within one of said` shells adapted to receive a plurality of said socket contacts, a resilient insert mounted within the other of said shells adapted to receive a plurality of said pin contacts, said inserts having annular portions contacting thewalls oi the bores, the flange, and the abutments in their respective shells, and cooperating aligning means on said shells and on each shell and its insert v for coupling the shells and said socket and pin contacts in aligned relation, and means for axially compressing said inserts in end to end en- 8 gagement between said square annular abutments.

5. In an electrical connector of the pin contact and socket contact type having laterally disposed space providing for the flow of a resilient insert member under compression, a one-piece rigid tubular shell, a resilient member removably disposed within said shell, at least a portion of said member being under radial compression and having an uninterrupted cylindrical periphery in engagement with a smooth cylindrical portion of said shell, means including an axially extending key in the shell and a cooperating groove in said member for angularly orienting the member in the shell, said key terminating short of the end of the shell which. is sealed there beyond by the compressed material of the insert member, a plurality of contacts mounted in the insert member in positions oriented with respect to said key, and means including an annular recess in said member and an internal annular projection on said shell engaged in said recess for retaining said member in said shell, said recess and projection having at corresponding ends thereofv cooperating bevelled and square annular abutments, the diameter of the insert and shell at the bevelled abutment being greater than at the square abutment.

6. In an electrical connector, a rigid tubular' shell having two axially spaced bores of different diameters and an internal annular flange between said bores, said flange being of smaller inside diameter than the smaller diameter bore and having a bevelled shoulder on the side of the larger diameter bore, and a resilient contact supporting insert in said shell having axially spaced annular portions of different diameters for engagement with said bores, andan annular groove shaped to engage said flange, said annular portion of larger diameter being under radial compression in said larger diameter bore.

7. An electical connector as dened in claim 6 including an axially extending, radially projecting key in said shell extending across only a portion of said larger diameter bore, and a keyway for said key in the insert terminating short of the end of the larger diameter portion of said insert which is remote from said groove.

8. In an electrical connector, a rigid shell having at least two axially spaced bores of different diameters and an internal annular flange connecting said bores, the larger diameter bore terminating at said flange in a bevelled annular abutment and the smaller diameter bore terminating at said flange in a substantially radial annular abutment, a resilient contact supporting insert spaced annular portions of different diameters for engagement with the Walls of said bores and an annular groove connecting said portions, said groove being shaped to engage the contours oi said flange, and said larger diameter portion of said insertJ being under radial compression in said larger diameter bore, an axially extending key in said shell extending across only a portion of said larger diameter bore andbeing approximately iiush with the inner diameter ot said flange, and a keyway in said insert for said key terminating short of the end of the larger diameter portion oi said insert which is remote from said groove.

9. In an electrical connector, a rigid tubular shell having at least two axially spaced bores of different diameters and an Ainternal `annular flange connecting said bores, the inner end of in said shell having axiallythe larger diameter bore terminating at said flange in a bevelled annular abutment and the inner end of the smaller diameter bore terminating at said flange in a substantially square annular abutment, a resilient contact supporting insert in said shell having a plurality of passages for contacts and axially spaced annular portions of different diameters engaging the walls of said bores under radial compression and an annular groove connecting said portions, said groove being shaped to receive and closely engage the walls of said flange, an axially extending key in said shell extending across said ange with the end thereof adjacent said larger diameter bore terminating short of the outer end of said larger diameter bore, said insert having a keyway in said annular portions thereof for receiving said key and said keyway terminating short of the end of said annular portion which engages the wall of the larger diameter bore in the shell, whereby at least part of said insert has compressive engagement with said larger diameter bore entirely around the periphery thereof.

10. An electrical connector as defined in claim 9 wherein said insert has an end portion within the small diameter bore of the shell having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the flange in the shell.

11. An electrical connector as deilned in claim 9 wherein said insert has at least one axially extending passage therethrough, the central portion of each said passage having a reduced diameter to form an internal ange within the ange in the shell, and a contact member mounted in each said passage and having a reduced central portion forming an annular groove thereon engaged by said ilange in the passage to yieldably hold the contact member against axial displacement.

12. The combination comprising two electrical connector assemblies as dened in claim 11 wherein the insert in one assembly supports socket contact members and the insert in the other assembly supports pin contact members, and means for detachably securing said assemblies together with said pin and socket contact members in telescoping engagement, the shells thereof in telescoping relation and the adjacent ends of the inserts in end-to-end engagement under compression, whereby each insert is pressed axially against the square annular abutment of the flange in the mounting shell therefor.

WILLIAM A. ULINE. HOWARD P. ROWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,015,418 Wermine Sept. 24, 1935 2,265,341 Borchert Dec. 9, 1941 2,275,762 Horton Mar. 10, 1942 2,276,017 Brownstein Mar. l0. 1942 2,286,952 Cannon et al June 16, 1942 2,291,793 Chandler Aug. 4,1942 2,307,972 Strunk Jan. 12, 1943 2,371,551 Schmitt Mar. 13, 1945 2,379,942 Webber July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 545,602 England June 4, 1942 

